OMRO – When Omro football coach Dave Wellhoefer started to scout the Lodi football team, he saw plenty of similarities between the Blue Devils and his team.

Both have talented offensive and defensive lines, both like to run the ball a lot more than pass and both teams can put points on the board. Top-seeded Lodi (12-0) comes in averaging 35.2 points per game while the second-seeded Foxes (11-1) are at 33.6.

The WIAA Division 4 Level 4 playoff game will be held at the West Bend High School football field at 7 p.m. tonight.

“They remind me a lot of us,” Wellhoefer said. “Good offensive line play and defense as well, they have some good size and strength and we have some good size and strength. They have been doing a lot in the trenches too. They have way more rush yards than pass yards.”

Lodi, the winners of the Capitol-North Conference, is coming off a 15-14 win – needing a field goal to win as time expired – over conference rival Columbus in the Level 3 game. Meanwhile, Omro defeated fifth-seeded Winneconne in the ‘China Bull 2’ game, 29-14, last week to reach their first-ever Level 4 playoff game.

Like Wellhoefer said, both teams play similar football. However, they have done it a bit differently.

The Blue Devils rely on one running back in Mark Nellen, who has rushed for 1,939 yards this season (8.5 average) with 23 touchdowns. The next leading rusher is Casey Persike (548 yards, nine TDs).

“Their offensive system is a bit different as they run the (I-formation), they have one player who is responsible for more of the yards and he has 1,900 yards and he’s an outstanding back,” Wellhoefer said. “You look at film and it’s their offensive line that’s paving the way for them. They will be a fantastic matchup for our kids on Friday.”

Omro is no different. The Foxes rely on their offensive line, but they have a variety of backs. Chris Hess is the team’s leading rusher at 931 yards (14 TDs), followed by Spencer Potratz (739, 8 TDs), Matt Hess (731, 10 TDs) and Erik Schwandt (566, 5 TDs).

One of the most eye-popping statistics for Lodi is its run-defense. The Blue Devils only give up an average of 37.4 yards per game rushing, while Omro rushes for 323.3 yards per game. Lodi gives up only 6.8 points per game this season and has five shutouts.

So what’s going to give in tonight’s matchup?

“In playoffs you get those matchups, last week we played Winneconne with a great defense and you have those stories all the time, a good offense against a good defense, and vice versa,” Wellhoefer said. “Something has to give on that Friday night so we’re preparing and working our butts off and we’re working so we can be the ones that are setting the tempo.”

The offensive line is ready for that task and isn’t scared of what lies ahead.

“They have some big players,” senior offensive lineman Kenny Thums said. “It’s nothing we haven’t seen before. 280-pounds, we have been pushing that around for a while. I don’t think Lodi has ever been hit as hard as we hit people so we’ll just keep pounding it and they’ll break.”

Lodi’s quarterback Garrett Schreiber has thrown for 1,011 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions this season, while Derek Paulson has a team-high 21 catches for 338 yards and six TDs.

For Omro, Potratz has thrown for 708 yards and nine touchdowns and one interception.

So both teams like to run the ball and the game will be decided in the trenches. According to Wellhoefer, it’ll take a very clean game to give Omro its first state tournament appearance.

“Discipline and good schemes, whether it’s offense or defense,” Welhoefer said. “It’s not just putting the ball on the ground and turnovers, there are the hidden turnovers, the wasted plays we call them. Whether it’s penalties, making technique mistakes, or scheme mistakes, missing a block or busting a play, those are things we need to minimize as well because they go a long way for our success.”